Up In the Air

What the story of the balloon boy says about parenting is still unclear. But what it says about the media's tendency to slap a "breaking news" label on bright shiny objects is painfully obvious.

And the predictably chest-thumping "how dare you make a fool of out of us" tone of the inquisition of the family on the Friday morning 'news' programs further reflected the beast's need to feed itself and was easier than any self analysis.

While day-after coverage of non-stories is typical morning show fodder it would not occur without the participation of the people involved, whose complicity in their own public humiliation never fails to astound me, naive and innocent flower that I am.

These particular parents, however, do seem to be addicted to the spotlight - they were on "Wife Swap" after all. Twice. And when the boy in question became ill on the air, the parents continued as if nothing had happened. They actually had to be urged by "Today' show host Meredith Viera to attend to him.

When I first heard about this story, I cynically thought of how it could be used as a promotional gimmick for the Pixar movie "Up" - about a senior citizen who ties balloons to his house and floats away - which is coincidentally due for release on DVD in November.

But then my thoughts turned to the gently profound new George Clooney film "Up In The Air," in which he plays a frequent flier whose streamlined approach to travel has also caused him to jettison attachment and commitment from his life. This film, by "Juno" director Jason Reitman, is an inadvertent critique of the sort of microwave culture that the balloon boy coverage represents.

Clooney plays a hired gun who notifies employees of downsized companies that they are being fired, a job that he handles with tact and sensitivity, but one that is not without consequences for himself. Parts of the film are set, but were not filmed, in Wisconsin.

The two trailers below are both charming. The first is a more traditional story driven synopsis. But the second is a haunting recitation by Clooney's character of his life philosophy accompanied by clips from the film. "Up In the Air" is due for release in December.

About Duane Dudek

Duane Dudek is a reporter and columnist covering radio and television. He also reviews movies.